A veteran lawyer has been convicted for his role in a ‘cashback’ property deal, with the judge admonishing him for carrying on with what was clearly a scam.

Bachoo Mohan Singh, a lawyer for more than 30 years, was convicted in a district court yesterday of helping a Housing Board flat owner make a false declaration in April 2004.

Although the agreed selling price of Mr Koh Sia Kang’s five- room Redhill flat was $390,000, it was inflated by $100,000 as part of the so-called cashback scam.

Such a scam involves a pro- perty seller declaring a higher price in order to secure a higher loan for the buyer.

The cash difference between the actual and declared price is either kept by the buyer or split with the seller. These scams were rife before the relevant law was tightened two years ago.

Singh, 59, got into trouble as a result of the sale falling through. He acted for Mr Koh, 53, a taxi driver, who sued the buyers.

Mr Koh went to court, claiming he was cheated of money in the transaction. He also sued the pro- perty agent who had arranged the aborted sale to a couple.

Property agent Kereen Teo Pei Pei, 28, was the first person to be convicted. She was fined $8,000 last year for trying to cheat DBS Bank by inflating the selling price of Mr Koh’s flat by $100,000. Her manager was similarly fined.

Mr Koh has yet to be charged with any offence.

In arriving at his decision, District Judge Bala Reddy agreed with the prosecution that Singh knew all along about the cashback deal.

The judge added that when Mr Koh went on to make the false $490,000 claim against the couple, Singh continued to act for him to sue them based on the false claim. Singh had thus abused the judicial process, he added.

He showed no emotion when the judge announced his decision.

Soon after, he sought permission through his lawyer to return to Perth in Australia. His immediate family is in Perth.

His lawyer, Mr Ang Cheng Hock, said Singh was not a flight risk as his sister and mother are still living here.

However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Vincent Leow objected, arguing that because Singh’s family is in Perth, he was a potential flight risk.

The judge will decide on Tuesday if Singh may leave the country. The mitigation hearing is set for July 27.

Singh is now out on $20,000 bail. He could be jailed up to two years and fined.

Source: The Straits Times, 30 June 2007